"Well, the good news about Caspain's is you get food. The bad thing is costs about 4 times more than anywhere else on the Ave. It's like I got robbed...shanked in the wallet. When I left there I felt worse than I felt all year. It's humiliating. I hesitate to say this, but I spent $43 for two people to eat on the Ave. THE AVE! Who does Caspian's think it is? It's ridiculous! Apparently Caspian is Narnia-speak for 'Eat here and sell the rights to your first born so that you can afford to pay for your meal.' I mean, c'mon!" - Mike McEvoy
55th and the Ave is where Caspian's sits and feeds on the money of unsuspecting Seattleites. When Mike and his friend Mike walked in, they were the only people there. Pretty lame for a restaurant that has 30 tables it it. (sidenote: they had a stage and a DJ botth as well. Lame.) Evidently Caspian's makes enough profit to only have two people a day because it costs so much for one frappin meal.
The "upsides":
They each got a Cornish Game Hen (2wings, 2 drumsticks, 2 breasts, 1 grilled tomato)
They got the satisfaction of eating an entire bird
They didn't have to spend $44 for the meal
It had a functioning door
The downsides:
$43 for 2 people to eat!!!!!! What is this? High school prom?!?
Bottom Line: If you haven't won the lottery yet, don't eat at Caspian's.
Value: 0 (First zero in value EVER!)
Taste: 6
Intagibles: 3
Total Score: 9 out of 30
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Banana Leaf Cafe [12]
"Nobody I know has ever heard of Banana Leaf Cafe. Maybe their food advertises itself?......nope. " - Mike McEvoy
Banana Leaf Cafe is located at the Ave and 40th. (Near the College Inn.) Super far south. Way past where Mike thought restaurants actually existed. He said "Tom do you realize how far away Banana Leaf Cafe is?". I didn't know how far, but it was far enough to make Mike angry.
Despite the name, Banana Leaf is in fact a Thai food restaurant. NOT a sandwich joint like the word Cafe implies. When you walk in, there are a bunch of people just sitting by themselves. You look around and there is a tiny counter. Mike wasn't sure if he had to go up to it and order or sit and wait for someone to take your order.
When mike looked at the menu, it was very informational. Swimming Rama which is spinach, meat, and peanut sauce. Peanut sauce makes anything green taste good. The food was okay, it was nothing special. In fact it was similar to other Thai food, but a little bit under average. It definitely doesn't make Mike want to forge the 8 mile hike between UPC and this restaurant. If he had a razor scooter, he would go down there since it's all downhill. But then he would need a ride back up.
Bottom Line: There's way too many better Thai places on the Ave to choose your time at Banana Leaf.
Value: 4
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 4
Total Score: 12 out of 30
Banana Leaf Cafe is located at the Ave and 40th. (Near the College Inn.) Super far south. Way past where Mike thought restaurants actually existed. He said "Tom do you realize how far away Banana Leaf Cafe is?". I didn't know how far, but it was far enough to make Mike angry.
Despite the name, Banana Leaf is in fact a Thai food restaurant. NOT a sandwich joint like the word Cafe implies. When you walk in, there are a bunch of people just sitting by themselves. You look around and there is a tiny counter. Mike wasn't sure if he had to go up to it and order or sit and wait for someone to take your order.
When mike looked at the menu, it was very informational. Swimming Rama which is spinach, meat, and peanut sauce. Peanut sauce makes anything green taste good. The food was okay, it was nothing special. In fact it was similar to other Thai food, but a little bit under average. It definitely doesn't make Mike want to forge the 8 mile hike between UPC and this restaurant. If he had a razor scooter, he would go down there since it's all downhill. But then he would need a ride back up.
Bottom Line: There's way too many better Thai places on the Ave to choose your time at Banana Leaf.
Value: 4
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 4
Total Score: 12 out of 30
Monday, May 4, 2009
Blue Dog Cafe [20]
"I can't think of anything worse in life than when you and someone go out to eat, pay the same price for a meal, and the other person get's twice the amount of food." - Mike McEvoy
(BDC) Blue Dog Cafe is located at 55th and the Ave. It is a quaint little cafe with an undertone of hippie permeating throughout the restaurant. (take that for what you will.) They have free wifi which is nice for the person who needs to get some work done and their Starbucks gift card has just ran out of money. They even had a bookcase filled with random books. BDC's set up is nice and their menu is a giant blackboard with all the sandwiches, soups, and breakfast items written in chalk. (Sidenote: They stop serving breakfast at noon.) (Doubley Sidenote: If Mike gets a chance to eat their breakfast, he will be willing to rescore this place.)
Mike went to eat with his eating partner Aaron. They both got sandwiches which, after tax, were about $8 each. As it turns out, Aaron's sandwich was about 150% larger than Mike's sandwich. It ACTUALLY upset him. He sat there staring at Aaron's sandwich in disbelief that he spent just as much as Aaron, but got much less sandwich. When Mike finally got around to eating the sandwich, he was pleased.
Bottom Line: It takes a while to walk up there, but it has a nice feel. Very original.
Value: 6
Taste: 7
Intangibles: 7
Total Score: 20 out of 30
(BDC) Blue Dog Cafe is located at 55th and the Ave. It is a quaint little cafe with an undertone of hippie permeating throughout the restaurant. (take that for what you will.) They have free wifi which is nice for the person who needs to get some work done and their Starbucks gift card has just ran out of money. They even had a bookcase filled with random books. BDC's set up is nice and their menu is a giant blackboard with all the sandwiches, soups, and breakfast items written in chalk. (Sidenote: They stop serving breakfast at noon.) (Doubley Sidenote: If Mike gets a chance to eat their breakfast, he will be willing to rescore this place.)
Mike went to eat with his eating partner Aaron. They both got sandwiches which, after tax, were about $8 each. As it turns out, Aaron's sandwich was about 150% larger than Mike's sandwich. It ACTUALLY upset him. He sat there staring at Aaron's sandwich in disbelief that he spent just as much as Aaron, but got much less sandwich. When Mike finally got around to eating the sandwich, he was pleased.
Bottom Line: It takes a while to walk up there, but it has a nice feel. Very original.
Value: 6
Taste: 7
Intangibles: 7
Total Score: 20 out of 30
Saturday, April 18, 2009
A Pizza Mart - [11]
"I walk into a very dimly lit A Pizza Mart at high noon. Now the 3rd time I had been there with nobody in there. Even if I have to make my own pizza. Do i sit at the table? The couch in the back perhaps? The bar? I don't know. It was then a middle aged woman strolls over and takes our drink order. No beer for me today, I say. Just some delicious A Pizza Mart pizza...please. What kind you have i ask? Any kind she said. I decide on the peperoni. An exotic meat that I have heard tales of. Since she's the only one there, I assume she will be bringing me my pizza. I wait patiently for it to come. My associate max and I wait for the food. The pizza finally strolls over on top of the middle aged woman's hand. 10 pieces of A Pizza Mart pizza. I ate 60% of that pizza. Delicious...and by delicious I mean it was super average. 2 guys eating a meal for $12 after tax and tip was pretty dang good. If only the pizza had tasted good. I strolled back out onto The Ave and walked away. Like a handful of places on The Ave, nobody eats lunch at A Pizza Mart."
-Mike McEvoy
Bottom Line: Mike would rather go there than Flowers.
Value: 5
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 2
Total Score: 11 out of 30
-Mike McEvoy
Bottom Line: Mike would rather go there than Flowers.
Value: 5
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 2
Total Score: 11 out of 30
Friday, April 17, 2009
Finn McCool's - [17.5]
"The legend of Finn McCool: Finn would suck his thumb, and by doing that, magic happened!" - Ryan Church
"Uhh...thanks Ryan" - Mike McEvoy
Down on The Ave just north of 45th, Finn McCools is open during the day too. Mike said that for lunch they had a special on BBQ beef mixed with a grilled cheese sandwich. AND...it was cut into triangles!!! Mike loves triangle shaped food. It was served with amazing BBQ sauce. According to Mike and Jordan, every food tastes better with BBQ sauce. Even pie. (Don't believe me? Just try it, nay-sayer.)
Inside it wasn't packed at all. Even though it was a bar by night, it definitely had a very good lunch feel. The lady working there was nice for the most part. She was probably flustered from serving 2 strapping young men like Mike and Jordan. (But, probably not.) Mike felt like you get a good sandwich and good fries for about $10 with tax and tip. It's not the best value in the world, but it could be worse. And while Mike didn't get a fish or a beef burger, they looked good in his mind.
Bottom Line: If you're going to go to a bar for lunch on The Ave, Finn's is the place to go.
Value: 4.5
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 5.5
Total Score: 17.5 out of 30
"Uhh...thanks Ryan" - Mike McEvoy
Down on The Ave just north of 45th, Finn McCools is open during the day too. Mike said that for lunch they had a special on BBQ beef mixed with a grilled cheese sandwich. AND...it was cut into triangles!!! Mike loves triangle shaped food. It was served with amazing BBQ sauce. According to Mike and Jordan, every food tastes better with BBQ sauce. Even pie. (Don't believe me? Just try it, nay-sayer.)
Inside it wasn't packed at all. Even though it was a bar by night, it definitely had a very good lunch feel. The lady working there was nice for the most part. She was probably flustered from serving 2 strapping young men like Mike and Jordan. (But, probably not.) Mike felt like you get a good sandwich and good fries for about $10 with tax and tip. It's not the best value in the world, but it could be worse. And while Mike didn't get a fish or a beef burger, they looked good in his mind.
Bottom Line: If you're going to go to a bar for lunch on The Ave, Finn's is the place to go.
Value: 4.5
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 5.5
Total Score: 17.5 out of 30
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Pam's Kitchen [16.5]
"Note to all you lunch eaters. Pam's kitchen is only open on Friday's. I don't know what kind of business plan that is, but their making enough to stay open. "
Pam's is located at 50th and The Ave, and it serves food from the country of Trinidad and Tobago food. (2 words, 1 island) While Mike doesn't know much about this type of food, but it was very similar to Indian food. It has quickly become Mike's #1 place to get goat meat on The Ave.
The inside is filled with many wonderful things likes a flag, a tiki hut bar, an authentic (and informative) waitstaff, and an overall good island feel. For the meal Mike ordered a giant pile of goat meat that came with potato-like food substance, and pita type bread. The bread tased muy delicioso. A major downside was that after tax and tip, Mike's meal was $15. Yikes. The secret to how they stay in business is now known.
Bottom Line: If the parents are buying, go there. Otherwise, you're eating for one and paying for 2.
Value: 2
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 7
Total Score: 16.5 out of 30
Pam's is located at 50th and The Ave, and it serves food from the country of Trinidad and Tobago food. (2 words, 1 island) While Mike doesn't know much about this type of food, but it was very similar to Indian food. It has quickly become Mike's #1 place to get goat meat on The Ave.
The inside is filled with many wonderful things likes a flag, a tiki hut bar, an authentic (and informative) waitstaff, and an overall good island feel. For the meal Mike ordered a giant pile of goat meat that came with potato-like food substance, and pita type bread. The bread tased muy delicioso. A major downside was that after tax and tip, Mike's meal was $15. Yikes. The secret to how they stay in business is now known.
Bottom Line: If the parents are buying, go there. Otherwise, you're eating for one and paying for 2.
Value: 2
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 7
Total Score: 16.5 out of 30
Monday, April 6, 2009
Earl's [14]
WE'RE BACK! Me, Mike, and #1 fan Jordan Collier were with a crew of people down in the Dominican Republic. Sorry it's been so long since the last entry, but we're back in America and ready to review!
"I learned a valuable lesson today, Tom. Nobody eats lunch at Earl's." - Mike McEvoy
Mike and his eating partner Justin walked into a dimly lit Earl's restaurant. Luckily Jerry Springer on the TV shed just enough light to manouver about the restaurant. There were 6 others inside, the most eclectic of the group being Pete. Pete both takes orders and makes all the food at Earl's. The creepiest person being the lady giving the other 4 people at the bar, back rubs. Mike feels as though Earl's has a lot of potential. It has lots of seating options, pool tables, etc...BUT it is not a very compatible place for eating lunch.
Mike got a $5.50 cheese burger and chicken wings. The food was okay tasting. It didn't leave him wanting to go back to get another Earl Burger, but he didn't hate it. When it came time to pay Pete for the meal, Mike paid $16 for his $14 tab and Pete shoved the money straight into his pocket. No cash register necessary, apparently.
Bottom Line: No one eats lunch at Earl's. (Thanks Emily Eggers)
Value: 8
Taste: 4.5
Intangibles: 1.5
Total Score: 14 out of 30
"I learned a valuable lesson today, Tom. Nobody eats lunch at Earl's." - Mike McEvoy
Mike and his eating partner Justin walked into a dimly lit Earl's restaurant. Luckily Jerry Springer on the TV shed just enough light to manouver about the restaurant. There were 6 others inside, the most eclectic of the group being Pete. Pete both takes orders and makes all the food at Earl's. The creepiest person being the lady giving the other 4 people at the bar, back rubs. Mike feels as though Earl's has a lot of potential. It has lots of seating options, pool tables, etc...BUT it is not a very compatible place for eating lunch.
Mike got a $5.50 cheese burger and chicken wings. The food was okay tasting. It didn't leave him wanting to go back to get another Earl Burger, but he didn't hate it. When it came time to pay Pete for the meal, Mike paid $16 for his $14 tab and Pete shoved the money straight into his pocket. No cash register necessary, apparently.
Bottom Line: No one eats lunch at Earl's. (Thanks Emily Eggers)
Value: 8
Taste: 4.5
Intangibles: 1.5
Total Score: 14 out of 30
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Cedar's On The Ave [14.5]
"This is not the Cedar's on Brooklyn, but the Cedar's on the Ave and 43rd. I reccomend sticking with the Cedar's on Brooklyn." - Mike McEvoy
The other Cedar's is Indian food. This Cedar's is Mediterranean food. Inside it is really tiny with only 4 tables crammed in the middle. It gave you no room to hold a meaningful conversation. Mike ordered the gryo plate for his meal. The menu said that it came with pita bread. Mike was excited at this prospect of loads of bread, but much to his dismay, he was delivered tiny triangles of "pita". Basically what you would get to eat a teaspoon of hummus. Also, a majority of his plate was covered in some foreign dish called "salad". This pissed off Mike.
Bottom Line: Mike just wanted more from Cedar's. It's didn't live up to the name Cedar's, but it is definitely better than Samir's.
Value: 3
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 5.5
Total Score: 14.5 out of 30
The other Cedar's is Indian food. This Cedar's is Mediterranean food. Inside it is really tiny with only 4 tables crammed in the middle. It gave you no room to hold a meaningful conversation. Mike ordered the gryo plate for his meal. The menu said that it came with pita bread. Mike was excited at this prospect of loads of bread, but much to his dismay, he was delivered tiny triangles of "pita". Basically what you would get to eat a teaspoon of hummus. Also, a majority of his plate was covered in some foreign dish called "salad". This pissed off Mike.
Bottom Line: Mike just wanted more from Cedar's. It's didn't live up to the name Cedar's, but it is definitely better than Samir's.
Value: 3
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 5.5
Total Score: 14.5 out of 30
Thanh Vi [14]
"What's that thing called...a pananni?" - Mike McEvoy
"I think it's called a panini." - Jordan Collier
On the outside of the restaurant, located at the Ave and south of 43rd, is a sign that says "Best Sandwiches On The Ave". Let's just say Mike is not the biggest fan of false advertising. It was bread filled with meat and shredded carrots. It is a good healthy snack. The sandwich itself was a good deal at $3.50, but it isn't a meal. It's the quinticential definition of an afternoon snack. They also had Pho there. Before this place Mike was convinced that there was no difference between the various pho places, but this place proved him wrong. Thanh Vi's pho tastes noticeably worse than the other 3 pho places. The main reason for this horrible pho is that their meat was groddie. It was basically soggy meatballs in luke-warm water. Yummy?
Bottom Line: meat + carrot strips = not the best sandwich on the Ave. Liars.
Value: 6
Taste: 3
Intangibles: 5
Total Score: 14 out of 30
"I think it's called a panini." - Jordan Collier
On the outside of the restaurant, located at the Ave and south of 43rd, is a sign that says "Best Sandwiches On The Ave". Let's just say Mike is not the biggest fan of false advertising. It was bread filled with meat and shredded carrots. It is a good healthy snack. The sandwich itself was a good deal at $3.50, but it isn't a meal. It's the quinticential definition of an afternoon snack. They also had Pho there. Before this place Mike was convinced that there was no difference between the various pho places, but this place proved him wrong. Thanh Vi's pho tastes noticeably worse than the other 3 pho places. The main reason for this horrible pho is that their meat was groddie. It was basically soggy meatballs in luke-warm water. Yummy?
Bottom Line: meat + carrot strips = not the best sandwich on the Ave. Liars.
Value: 6
Taste: 3
Intangibles: 5
Total Score: 14 out of 30
Friday, March 13, 2009
Subway [13.5]
"Ahh...Subway. The perfect Ave restaurant. The only good Subway in America is here on the Ave." - Mike McEvoy
Mike doesn't have much to say other than everyone's been there and it's a franchise restaurant. It is nice, however, that all of their sandwiches are $5. Mike ate a $5 dollar meatball sub. Yummy. Welp...that's about it.
Bottom Line: Subway might not be the perfect Ave restaurant, but it certainly beats Jack's Tapas Café.
Value: 7 (5. 5 dollar. 5 dollar foot longs.)
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 0.5 (Too franchisey)
Total Score: 13.5 out of 30
ps Subway no longer takes the "buy ten get one free cards" so don't even try
Mike doesn't have much to say other than everyone's been there and it's a franchise restaurant. It is nice, however, that all of their sandwiches are $5. Mike ate a $5 dollar meatball sub. Yummy. Welp...that's about it.
Bottom Line: Subway might not be the perfect Ave restaurant, but it certainly beats Jack's Tapas Café.
Value: 7 (5. 5 dollar. 5 dollar foot longs.)
Taste: 6
Intangibles: 0.5 (Too franchisey)
Total Score: 13.5 out of 30
ps Subway no longer takes the "buy ten get one free cards" so don't even try
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Jack's Tapas Cafe [9.5]
"I don't know who Jack is, I don't know what "tapas" means, and I don't think it's even a cafe." - Mike McEvoy
Jack's is at 52nd and the Ave. Mike had high hopes. They had a newspaper clipping from The Seattle Times saying that they got a good review. Sounds good enough, right? No.
Mike ordered the General Tsao's chicken. Unfortunately when Mike recieved his meal he was not aware that he had ordered from the menu for ants. Basically, what makes this General Tsao's different from other General Tsao's is that this one could barely feed a newborn koala. The second he saw his meal, Mike immediately started thinking about what else he would have to order to suppliment his meal. Mike is going to go on the record and say, "This is by far one of the worst value I have seen on the Ave." Anyways, he ended up getting a side of white rice. (Sidenote: Something about Jack's made mike cough every time he took a bite. Who knows what it is, but watch out.)
Bottom Line: This will explain Jacks: When Mike and his party sat down, the vacated table next to them was covered with beef chunks and dirty napkins that didn't get cleaned up the entire time they were eating there.
Value: 1.5
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 4
Total Score: 9.5 out of 30
Jack's is at 52nd and the Ave. Mike had high hopes. They had a newspaper clipping from The Seattle Times saying that they got a good review. Sounds good enough, right? No.
Mike ordered the General Tsao's chicken. Unfortunately when Mike recieved his meal he was not aware that he had ordered from the menu for ants. Basically, what makes this General Tsao's different from other General Tsao's is that this one could barely feed a newborn koala. The second he saw his meal, Mike immediately started thinking about what else he would have to order to suppliment his meal. Mike is going to go on the record and say, "This is by far one of the worst value I have seen on the Ave." Anyways, he ended up getting a side of white rice. (Sidenote: Something about Jack's made mike cough every time he took a bite. Who knows what it is, but watch out.)
Bottom Line: This will explain Jacks: When Mike and his party sat down, the vacated table next to them was covered with beef chunks and dirty napkins that didn't get cleaned up the entire time they were eating there.
Value: 1.5
Taste: 4
Intangibles: 4
Total Score: 9.5 out of 30
Samir's Mediterranean Grill [13]
"What a crappy week. First Thanh Vi, then Jack's Dumb Cafe, and now Samir's. Uhh...someone bring me a Chipotle burrito before I throw up." - Mike McEvoy
This place basically has gyros, a big Greek salad, or fallafals. The gyros sound like a good deal..and then you taste it. Here's the thing. Samir is a solid dude. He was jolly and giving out mints to eveyone and Mike really wanted to like this place. BUT his pita tasted sooooo gross. It was lacking in meat and it was embellished in a sauce called 'tahini sauce'. As is turns out, tahini is Mediterranean for "tastes like the inside of a camel". The sauce totally demolished the taste of the food with it on it, and all of the food within 10 yards of it. It literally made Mike not want to eat! His eating partner Jordan Collier actually threw up a little in his mouth! Consider yourself warned.
Bottom Line: Feel free to go to Samir's but make sure you bring your own sack lunch.
Value: 4
Taste: 1.5
Intangibles: 7.5
Total Score: 13* out of 30
ps If Samir's actually is good then post a comment telling Mike the dish he needs to get that doesn't taste like a pachyderm.
This place basically has gyros, a big Greek salad, or fallafals. The gyros sound like a good deal..and then you taste it. Here's the thing. Samir is a solid dude. He was jolly and giving out mints to eveyone and Mike really wanted to like this place. BUT his pita tasted sooooo gross. It was lacking in meat and it was embellished in a sauce called 'tahini sauce'. As is turns out, tahini is Mediterranean for "tastes like the inside of a camel". The sauce totally demolished the taste of the food with it on it, and all of the food within 10 yards of it. It literally made Mike not want to eat! His eating partner Jordan Collier actually threw up a little in his mouth! Consider yourself warned.
Bottom Line: Feel free to go to Samir's but make sure you bring your own sack lunch.
Value: 4
Taste: 1.5
Intangibles: 7.5
Total Score: 13* out of 30
ps If Samir's actually is good then post a comment telling Mike the dish he needs to get that doesn't taste like a pachyderm.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Ruby's [14]
"Life's questions can be solved with one answer...add more meat." - Mike McEvoy
Ruby's is south of 43rd and the Ave right next to Flowers. (I'm sorry to keep bringing this place up. I promise this is the last time we will write Flowers on this blog.) It has a cold feel when you walk in and you definitely want a coat. Or at least a scarf. It reminds Mike of one of those New York studio apartments. Much like the one in Big Daddy. Mike and his eating partner were seated right next to the window which was neat. The service was okay. There was only one waitress, but luckily there weren't that many people.
The food was a mix between sandwiches and curry. Mike ordered a delicious sandwich but it didn't come with anything. Not even fries. He had to supplement his meal with a freaking salad. A salad! Salads are what food eats! Ridiculous. Anyways...their curry was good but the large potato chunks made you want to stab your curry.
Bottom Line: If you were someone with a ton of money and you wanted a sandwich, this is the place for you
Value: 3
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 3.5
Total Score: 14 out of 30
Ruby's is south of 43rd and the Ave right next to Flowers. (I'm sorry to keep bringing this place up. I promise this is the last time we will write Flowers on this blog.) It has a cold feel when you walk in and you definitely want a coat. Or at least a scarf. It reminds Mike of one of those New York studio apartments. Much like the one in Big Daddy. Mike and his eating partner were seated right next to the window which was neat. The service was okay. There was only one waitress, but luckily there weren't that many people.
The food was a mix between sandwiches and curry. Mike ordered a delicious sandwich but it didn't come with anything. Not even fries. He had to supplement his meal with a freaking salad. A salad! Salads are what food eats! Ridiculous. Anyways...their curry was good but the large potato chunks made you want to stab your curry.
Bottom Line: If you were someone with a ton of money and you wanted a sandwich, this is the place for you
Value: 3
Taste: 7.5
Intangibles: 3.5
Total Score: 14 out of 30
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Mr Lu's Seafood & Burgers [19]
"If you've walked by the outside of Mr. Lu's, you realize why its taken me 53 restaurants to get here. However..."- Mike McEvoy
Maybe it's all of the neon colors in the restaurant. Maybe it's the cultural rift that seems prevalent between seafood, Mr. Lu's, and burgers. But, it took a day like today for Mike to make it up to Mr Lu's. A day where not much was going on and he could leave half way through the day if he were to become sick from burgers and seafood.
Mr Lu's is located at the Ave and just south of 50th. When they walked in the owners were tapping away on their laptops and then jumped to work at the sight of new customers. It was more funny than representative of bad service. When Mike first looked at the menu the $1.95 onion ring basket was staring him down. They specialize in 3 things at Mr. Lu's: Beef Burgers, Chicken Burgers, and Fish Burgers. All of them are reasonably priced at around $5.95 for a burger and fries. Their specialty though is the Blackened Salmon Burger and it was priced at $7.75. It was interesting tasting in a good way with a lot of 1,000 island sauce. Mike enjoyed his choice but he wouldn't get that same thing again.
Mike would go back to Mr Lu's and it far exceded his expectations. It was no Chipotle, but it's no Best Of Bento.
Bottom Line: Touchè Mr. Lu. Touchè
Taste: 6.5
Value: 8
Intangibles: 4.5
Total Score: 19 out of 30
Maybe it's all of the neon colors in the restaurant. Maybe it's the cultural rift that seems prevalent between seafood, Mr. Lu's, and burgers. But, it took a day like today for Mike to make it up to Mr Lu's. A day where not much was going on and he could leave half way through the day if he were to become sick from burgers and seafood.
Mr Lu's is located at the Ave and just south of 50th. When they walked in the owners were tapping away on their laptops and then jumped to work at the sight of new customers. It was more funny than representative of bad service. When Mike first looked at the menu the $1.95 onion ring basket was staring him down. They specialize in 3 things at Mr. Lu's: Beef Burgers, Chicken Burgers, and Fish Burgers. All of them are reasonably priced at around $5.95 for a burger and fries. Their specialty though is the Blackened Salmon Burger and it was priced at $7.75. It was interesting tasting in a good way with a lot of 1,000 island sauce. Mike enjoyed his choice but he wouldn't get that same thing again.
Mike would go back to Mr Lu's and it far exceded his expectations. It was no Chipotle, but it's no Best Of Bento.
Bottom Line: Touchè Mr. Lu. Touchè
Taste: 6.5
Value: 8
Intangibles: 4.5
Total Score: 19 out of 30
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Shalamar [19.5]
"What can I say? I love a good waterfall." - Mike McEvoy
Shalamar definitely takes the cake for the classiest interior for an Indian food restaurant. Speaking of Indian food Restaurants, Mike needs to drop some knowledge of the workings of these establishment with regards to food quality and price. Here's some quick Mike-onomics:
The more buffet-style a restaurant is, the cheaper it is. The less buffet-style a restaurant is, the more expensive it is.
The inside was a spectacle! As Mike ate his Vindaloo chicken a palm tree hung over him and watched a waterfall flowing down over depressed caves of candles. It was putting a calm over Mike which he has never felt before in a restaurant. The scent of curry and rice lingered in the air. A tantalizing treat for Mike's senses...Of course none of this actually matters as much as Mike filling his belly.
They had a lunch and dinner menu too, but Mike should have known he wouldn't be filled up. To this day he still wishes he would have ordered off the dinner menu. It haunts his dreams and dominates his thoughts daily, eating him up inside. Anyways...The service was nice and the aesthetics of the restaurant were really cool.
Taste: 7
Value: 4.5
Intangibles: 8
Total Score: 19.5 out of 30
Shalamar definitely takes the cake for the classiest interior for an Indian food restaurant. Speaking of Indian food Restaurants, Mike needs to drop some knowledge of the workings of these establishment with regards to food quality and price. Here's some quick Mike-onomics:
The more buffet-style a restaurant is, the cheaper it is. The less buffet-style a restaurant is, the more expensive it is.
The inside was a spectacle! As Mike ate his Vindaloo chicken a palm tree hung over him and watched a waterfall flowing down over depressed caves of candles. It was putting a calm over Mike which he has never felt before in a restaurant. The scent of curry and rice lingered in the air. A tantalizing treat for Mike's senses...Of course none of this actually matters as much as Mike filling his belly.
They had a lunch and dinner menu too, but Mike should have known he wouldn't be filled up. To this day he still wishes he would have ordered off the dinner menu. It haunts his dreams and dominates his thoughts daily, eating him up inside. Anyways...The service was nice and the aesthetics of the restaurant were really cool.
Taste: 7
Value: 4.5
Intangibles: 8
Total Score: 19.5 out of 30
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Veggie Veggie [17.5]
"I refused to eat at a place named Veggie Veggie...until this Ave Review." - Mike McEvoy
Veggie Veggie is an Ave restaurant now in its 3rd year of existence located just south of 47th. He's not the biggest fan of places that make derogatory comments towards meat. (i.e. their name being Veggie Veggie) Since it was a Thai place, they had a lot of Thai pictures inside that were classy from far away, but once you get closer you see tiny signs on them made with blue marker that claim their business hours for everyone to see. Weird.
Mike ordered soy chicken. Mike's palette was extremely confused by this culinary invention. It's not tofu, but it definitely wasn't meat. Mike described it as eating a flavored sponge. (A stark departure from the organic free-range chicken he was expecting.) Mike ate his whole meal...which of course means absolutely nothing and on average 1 out of every 6 bites tasted good. (The other 5 were okay, but it just lacked flavor or something.)
That is how his meal tasted, and now this is how his meal smelled:
Have you ever been to the county fair? Let me describe it for you. You're walking the fair ground passing booths offering shaved ice and elephant ears. People are all around displaying smiling faces and trucker hats. As you make your way through the fair with the sun beating down on you and your overalls clinging to your shoulders you stroll into the 4-H barn. Then it hits you! A suffocating wave of farm animals and hay ravage your nostrils! That's what Mike's food smelled like. Nothing else in the restaurant smelled like that, just his meal. So if you order the pad kee-mo, consider yourself warned.
Besides that, the service was great with extremely nice people helping you order and make your dining experience better. And the music! It was amazing! An eclectic mix of Rascal Flats, U2, The Fray, and the like. They also had HUGE water cups that were never empty.
Taste: 5
Value: 5.5
Intangibles: 7
Total Score: 17.5 out of 30*
*While Mike doesn't reccomend this lifestyle, if you are a vegitarian or a vegan it's a pretty legit place.
Veggie Veggie is an Ave restaurant now in its 3rd year of existence located just south of 47th. He's not the biggest fan of places that make derogatory comments towards meat. (i.e. their name being Veggie Veggie) Since it was a Thai place, they had a lot of Thai pictures inside that were classy from far away, but once you get closer you see tiny signs on them made with blue marker that claim their business hours for everyone to see. Weird.
Mike ordered soy chicken. Mike's palette was extremely confused by this culinary invention. It's not tofu, but it definitely wasn't meat. Mike described it as eating a flavored sponge. (A stark departure from the organic free-range chicken he was expecting.) Mike ate his whole meal...which of course means absolutely nothing and on average 1 out of every 6 bites tasted good. (The other 5 were okay, but it just lacked flavor or something.)
That is how his meal tasted, and now this is how his meal smelled:
Have you ever been to the county fair? Let me describe it for you. You're walking the fair ground passing booths offering shaved ice and elephant ears. People are all around displaying smiling faces and trucker hats. As you make your way through the fair with the sun beating down on you and your overalls clinging to your shoulders you stroll into the 4-H barn. Then it hits you! A suffocating wave of farm animals and hay ravage your nostrils! That's what Mike's food smelled like. Nothing else in the restaurant smelled like that, just his meal. So if you order the pad kee-mo, consider yourself warned.
Besides that, the service was great with extremely nice people helping you order and make your dining experience better. And the music! It was amazing! An eclectic mix of Rascal Flats, U2, The Fray, and the like. They also had HUGE water cups that were never empty.
Taste: 5
Value: 5.5
Intangibles: 7
Total Score: 17.5 out of 30*
*While Mike doesn't reccomend this lifestyle, if you are a vegitarian or a vegan it's a pretty legit place.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Yummy Bites [20]
"C'Mon That place is called Yummy Bites. Let's just say that my expectations weren't really that high." - Mike mcEvoy
On the outside of the restaurant, at 42nd and the Ave, there is a sign with a dolphin with rainbow colors all around it. Mike wasn't sure if this restaurant served illegally caught dolphin meat or rhino steaks or what. Who knows the type of food they serve. If you really think about it any food from any place in the world could be served in the form of a bite...that is yummy.
When you walk in it is actually pretty good looking with nice tables, mirrors, 4 walls, the usual for a classy joint. When you approach the counter to order you get assaulted with many different options for your meal. There were about 8 different menu sections to choose from ranging from soups to korean dish to eel burgers. Mike almost partook in eel burgers, but didn't. He ended up getting beef bulgogi with spicy pork. It was decently priced too. Both Mike and Matt (his prtner-in-dine) ate for under $13. Not bad.
Mike says he learned 3 things from Yummy Bites Today:
1) He is never ordering anything bulgogi ever again. It turns out that boiiling meat makes meat less appetizing.
2) Menu items with a tiny chili pepper next to it, probably are extremely spicy and make him sweat a lot.
3) Yes. Yes Mike can eat a whole meal with chopsticks. It took him a little under an hour to finish, but he perservered.
Overall Mike was pleasantly surprised. He won't be making the walk anytime soon, but if you really REALLY need some bulgogi, this is your place.
Taste: 5.5
Value: 7
Intangibles: 7.5
Total Score: 20 out of 30
On the outside of the restaurant, at 42nd and the Ave, there is a sign with a dolphin with rainbow colors all around it. Mike wasn't sure if this restaurant served illegally caught dolphin meat or rhino steaks or what. Who knows the type of food they serve. If you really think about it any food from any place in the world could be served in the form of a bite...that is yummy.
When you walk in it is actually pretty good looking with nice tables, mirrors, 4 walls, the usual for a classy joint. When you approach the counter to order you get assaulted with many different options for your meal. There were about 8 different menu sections to choose from ranging from soups to korean dish to eel burgers. Mike almost partook in eel burgers, but didn't. He ended up getting beef bulgogi with spicy pork. It was decently priced too. Both Mike and Matt (his prtner-in-dine) ate for under $13. Not bad.
Mike says he learned 3 things from Yummy Bites Today:
1) He is never ordering anything bulgogi ever again. It turns out that boiiling meat makes meat less appetizing.
2) Menu items with a tiny chili pepper next to it, probably are extremely spicy and make him sweat a lot.
3) Yes. Yes Mike can eat a whole meal with chopsticks. It took him a little under an hour to finish, but he perservered.
Overall Mike was pleasantly surprised. He won't be making the walk anytime soon, but if you really REALLY need some bulgogi, this is your place.
Taste: 5.5
Value: 7
Intangibles: 7.5
Total Score: 20 out of 30
Friday, February 13, 2009
Greek Continental [13]
"This is the ideal place for a business meeting you wish you weren't having." - Mike McEvoy
This review won't be very long for 2 reasons:
1) Mike gave me his scores then walked into a meeting. I have no idea what he experienced, I just have his scores.
2) I [Tom] have a little bit of unfinished business of my own (that I left in the middle of) to do this blog post. It is a very important meeting with a very important client. (I'm almost to the raptor part.)
So, here is the review...
You go in, and you sit down and order. They bring you a gyro, salad, and french fries. Mike ate it and he wasn't too happy. Anyways, he ate and paid too much and left and now he doesn't want to go back.
The End
Taste: 5
Value: 3
Intangibles: 5
Total Score: 13 out of 30
This review won't be very long for 2 reasons:
1) Mike gave me his scores then walked into a meeting. I have no idea what he experienced, I just have his scores.
2) I [Tom] have a little bit of unfinished business of my own (that I left in the middle of) to do this blog post. It is a very important meeting with a very important client. (I'm almost to the raptor part.)
So, here is the review...
You go in, and you sit down and order. They bring you a gyro, salad, and french fries. Mike ate it and he wasn't too happy. Anyways, he ate and paid too much and left and now he doesn't want to go back.
The End
Taste: 5
Value: 3
Intangibles: 5
Total Score: 13 out of 30
Thursday, February 12, 2009
La Casa Del Mojito [21]
"It's Cuban food and that scares people a little bit. That's because Fidel Castro scares people a little bit." - Mike McEvoy
La Casa Del Mojito (which is spanish for The Casa Del Mojito) is located at 55th and the Ave. The only thing from keeping this restaurant from being insanely popular is the fact that it is so far north. You walk in and something hits you, it doubles as a salsa dance club on Fridays. They have Cuban food, and for those who have never partaken in this type of food, the cuisine is centered around AMAZING sandwiches. AND the pork was some of the best Mike has had. AND fried plantains accompany your meal. So delicious.
The owner of La Casa is a man named Luigi. (Omar Vizquel is the godfather to his kids.) He sounds as if he is originally from Latin America and he is so nice! In one lunchtime conversation, Mike felt like he's formed a lifelong friendship. The pictures around the restaurant were pretty and didn't make a lick of sense. They were super confusing and you couldn't tell what the artist was going for.
WARNING: They give you 2 salsas. One was delicious, and one was frappin' hot. Choose wisely.
Taste: 7
Value: 5
Intangibles: 9 (Mainly because of Luigi)
Total Score: 21 out of 30
La Casa Del Mojito (which is spanish for The Casa Del Mojito) is located at 55th and the Ave. The only thing from keeping this restaurant from being insanely popular is the fact that it is so far north. You walk in and something hits you, it doubles as a salsa dance club on Fridays. They have Cuban food, and for those who have never partaken in this type of food, the cuisine is centered around AMAZING sandwiches. AND the pork was some of the best Mike has had. AND fried plantains accompany your meal. So delicious.
The owner of La Casa is a man named Luigi. (Omar Vizquel is the godfather to his kids.) He sounds as if he is originally from Latin America and he is so nice! In one lunchtime conversation, Mike felt like he's formed a lifelong friendship. The pictures around the restaurant were pretty and didn't make a lick of sense. They were super confusing and you couldn't tell what the artist was going for.
WARNING: They give you 2 salsas. One was delicious, and one was frappin' hot. Choose wisely.
Taste: 7
Value: 5
Intangibles: 9 (Mainly because of Luigi)
Total Score: 21 out of 30
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Kai's Bistro [17.5]
"I didn't even know Kai's Existed." - Mike McEvoy
For those who don't know, Kai's is located at the Ave and 43rd.
From the outside Kai's looks like nothing. Possibly a bagel shop from the look of it. When you walk in, though, it has a unique feel. Very loungy feeling with high backed chairs and lots of seating. Interestingly enough there were a lot of older-than-college people, if that's your scene. It feels like a Belltown restaurant that was relocated to the Ave. It's a nice place, but it doesn't fit the feel of your typical "Ave lunchtime restaurant".
They served a happy hour menu all day.....right. Why can't their happy hour menu just be called 'menu'. Mike wasn't complaining though, because he ordered a chicken burger and fries for 5 bucks. His eating partner, Jordan Collier, got some delicious chicken strips and fries. Since each meal was 5 bucks, they ordered a third meal to share, Mac-and-Cheese with marinara. The third meal was sub-par compared to the other two.
Sidenote: Mike would rather read a book that's thin than a book that's thick.
Taste: 6.5
Value: 7.5
Intangibles: 3.5 (Mike has nothing against the environment of the restaurant, it just doesn't feel like the Ave)
Total Score: 17.5 out of 30
For those who don't know, Kai's is located at the Ave and 43rd.
From the outside Kai's looks like nothing. Possibly a bagel shop from the look of it. When you walk in, though, it has a unique feel. Very loungy feeling with high backed chairs and lots of seating. Interestingly enough there were a lot of older-than-college people, if that's your scene. It feels like a Belltown restaurant that was relocated to the Ave. It's a nice place, but it doesn't fit the feel of your typical "Ave lunchtime restaurant".
They served a happy hour menu all day.....right. Why can't their happy hour menu just be called 'menu'. Mike wasn't complaining though, because he ordered a chicken burger and fries for 5 bucks. His eating partner, Jordan Collier, got some delicious chicken strips and fries. Since each meal was 5 bucks, they ordered a third meal to share, Mac-and-Cheese with marinara. The third meal was sub-par compared to the other two.
Sidenote: Mike would rather read a book that's thin than a book that's thick.
Taste: 6.5
Value: 7.5
Intangibles: 3.5 (Mike has nothing against the environment of the restaurant, it just doesn't feel like the Ave)
Total Score: 17.5 out of 30
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